SETTLERS IN DIFFICULTIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 7

SETTLERS IN DIFFICULTIES.

Twenty-one settlers have petitioned Parlament for the right to purchase the Freehold ot sections of tho Ohotu Block leased _ by them from the Aotea Maori Land Board. The petitioners state that tno block is very inadequately roadetl some of them having only a pack-track to thoir sections, and some being without any means of access. Being Native land the block receives no Government grants forroading.-. Tho petitioners, when thev took up the land understood that the roads would be made either by the Gov-

ernnient or by tho Maori Land Board, but tho main burden of tho reading has now boon thrown on tho lessees. If they torm special rating areas und obtain loans from the State. Advances Office for rending, the loans will be extinguished by tho sinking funds betore the expiry of the eases, and the Nntivo owners"will pet their lands roaded at the cost of tho lessees, which, tho petitioners submit, will bo inequitable. There are no inducements to the lessees to utilise or preserve tho valuable timber cm their sections, as the leases provide for half royalties being paid to the Native owners. The timber is therefore beinp foiled and burnt, and is rapidly disappearing. The greatest difficulty is experienced in obtaining loans on tho. security of the leases, as the leases aro not in favour with lending institutions nnd banks, nnd tho small amounts obtainable from the State Advances Office of little practical value. The petitioners further state that many of tho Native owners desire to sell, and that the lessees' interests in their improvements greatly exceed tho Natives' interest in the freehold, subject to the leases for forty-two years. . THEY WANT TO KNOW. Mr. Pearce (Patea) is to ask the Minister for_ Railways whether he will have the necessary alterations made at the Hawera Railway Station to avoid shunters having to shunt over a cattle-stop, and will he employ an experienced shunter to shuut at this station and not inexperienced porters, as ,two porters have been killed,and others injured" whilst shunting at this station recently Mr. Myers wants to know when the Government intends to call for tenders for the erection of a new courthouse at Auckland. Hβ states that Parliament voted the s"um of .£IO,OOO for this purpose last year, According to Mr. Myers, there is urgent need for a new permanent goods-shed at tho Auckland Railway Station. He is to ask tho Minister for Railways when the work is to be carried out.

.Mr. Buchanan will move for a return showing the number of assisted immigrants who have entered the Dominion, month by month, during the year 1910, and up to June 30, 1911,

THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. The Representation Commissioners may be expected to complete their labours towards tho middle of next week. They have decided the proportion in which tho representation is to bo divided between the two islands, and tho two branches of the commission are now engaged on the revision of the electoral boundaries. The preparation and the printing of the mans which will accompany their report will occupy some days.